Irene S. Scully Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.5-4.4 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies significantly (typically substantial multi-year grants)
• Geographic Focus: Oakland and West Contra Costa County, California
• EIN: 200414306

Contact Details

Irene S. Scully Family Foundation 1660 Bush Street San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone: (415) 561-6540 Email: info@pfs-llc.net Website: https://irenescullyfoundation.org/

Administrative Support: Pacific Foundation Services

• Tiffany Wood
• Mei Kuang

Overview

The Irene S. Scully Family Foundation was created in 2003 by Irene Scully to support her family's philanthropic interests and deepen their collective commitment to social justice. With assets totaling over $42 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $3.5-4.4 million, the foundation has focused exclusively on K-12 public education since 2010, when the all-family Board of Directors unanimously decided to concentrate their efforts on under-funded schools in Oakland and West Contra Costa County. The foundation's vision is that all Oakland and West Contra Costa County students receive a high-quality education and school communities have the capacity to fully meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all learners. As a mother of six and grandmother of nine, Irene Scully hopes that her commitment to education philanthropy will live on as future generations guide the foundation's giving.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation grants approximately $3.5 million annually to schools, school districts, and nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of K-12 public education in Oakland and West Contra Costa County. In 2023, the foundation made 3 grants totaling $4,439,993, indicating a focus on fewer, larger, more impactful investments rather than numerous smaller grants.

Scholarship Program: In addition to organizational grantmaking, the foundation offers four-year college scholarships to two high-achieving, low-income Richmond students from either John F. Kennedy High School or Richmond High School each year, in partnership with The Ed Fund (West Contra Costa Public Education Fund).

Priority Areas

As of 2018, all grants align with five priority areas:

1. Quality Public Schools

• Provides grants to public schools (district and charter)
• Focuses on schools achieving strong academic results for low-income students of color
• Supports high-potential schools demonstrating improvement

2. Healthy School Systems

• Invests in building equity, effectiveness, and transparency in districts
• Supports innovative system improvement projects
• Funds technical assistance and program evaluation

3. Engaged School Communities

• Supports community stakeholder participation in education policy
• Funds local advocacy, organizing, and leadership development
• Emphasizes meaningful engagement for impacted communities

4. Effective Teaching and Leadership

• Invests in educator development pathways
• Focuses on recruiting, developing, and retaining educators
• Aims to create equitable learning environments

5. Summer Learning

• Partners with summer learning providers
• Targets reducing summer learning loss for low-income students
• Supports programs with academic and social-emotional development

Geographic Limitations

The foundation exclusively funds initiatives in Oakland and West Contra Costa County, California. Organizations working outside these geographic areas are not eligible for funding.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed, the foundation's narrow geographic and programmatic focus means they do not fund:

• Organizations working outside Oakland and West Contra Costa County
• Programs not focused on K-12 public education
• Individual needs (except for the two annual college scholarships)
• Higher education institutions (beyond scholarships)
• Private schools

Governance and Leadership

The Irene S. Scully Family Foundation has been governed by an all-family Board of Directors since its inception in 2003. This family-focused governance structure reflects the founder's commitment to multi-generational engagement in education philanthropy.

Key Leadership:

• Irene S. Scully - Founder, Director, CEO & President
• Kathleen Maloney - Executive Director (has worked for the foundation since 2007; an El Cerrito parent and passionate education advocate dedicated to improving outcomes in West Contra Costa County schools)
• Kathryn Peterson - Director

The foundation's philosophy is summarized in their belief that "education [can create] a more just future" by focusing resources on students most impacted by institutional inequities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation's website indicates they have a grantmaking process page at irenescullyfoundation.org/process/, though specific application procedures are not publicly detailed. The foundation appears to take a strategic, relationship-based approach to grantmaking.

Based on typical patterns for family foundations of this size making a small number of large grants annually (3 grants in 2023), the foundation likely operates through:

• Proactive identification of high-impact organizations by foundation staff
• Strategic partnerships with organizations aligned with their five priority areas
• Multi-year funding commitments to support sustained organizational impact

Organizations interested in funding should visit the foundation's website or contact them directly to inquire about funding opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given that the foundation made only 3 grants in 2023, the number of funding opportunities is limited, suggesting a highly selective grantmaking approach.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach:

Geographic Alignment is Essential: Organizations must work specifically in Oakland or West Contra Costa County. This is a non-negotiable requirement.

Focus on Equity and Social Justice: The foundation was created to "deepen their collective commitment to social justice" and focuses on "students most impacted by institutional inequities." Successful applications should demonstrate a clear commitment to equity and reducing disparities for low-income students of color.

Systems-Level Impact: With grants averaging over $1 million, the foundation seeks to support organizations and initiatives that can create systemic change, not just incremental improvements.

Alignment with Priority Areas: Organizations should demonstrate how their work fits within one or more of the five priority areas: Quality Public Schools, Healthy School Systems, Engaged School Communities, Effective Teaching and Leadership, or Summer Learning.

Strong Track Record or High Potential: The foundation supports both schools "achieving strong academic results for low-income students of color" and "high-potential schools demonstrating improvement," suggesting they look for evidence of effectiveness or clear potential for impact.

Community Engagement: The foundation values "meaningful engagement for impacted communities" and supports "community stakeholder participation in education policy," indicating that organizations with strong community ties and authentic engagement practices may be favored.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving Oakland and West Contra Costa County are eligible - do not apply if you work elsewhere
• Expect large, multi-year grants: The foundation made only 3 grants totaling $4.4 million in 2023, indicating they favor substantial investments in fewer organizations
• Focus on educational equity: Frame your work in terms of addressing institutional inequities and creating more just educational outcomes for low-income students of color
• Demonstrate systems-level thinking: Show how your work contributes to broader system improvement, not just isolated programmatic wins
• Align with one or more priority areas: Clearly connect your work to Quality Public Schools, Healthy School Systems, Engaged School Communities, Effective Teaching and Leadership, or Summer Learning
• Build relationships proactively: With a family-governed board and strategic approach to grantmaking, establishing connections with foundation staff may be beneficial
• Consider the foundation's long-term commitment: Staff member Kathleen Maloney has worked for the foundation since 2007, suggesting they value deep expertise and sustained relationships with the communities they serve

References

• Irene S. Scully Family Foundation official website: https://irenescullyfoundation.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• Irene S. Scully Family Foundation History page: https://irenescullyfoundation.org/history-2/ (accessed January 2026)
• Irene S. Scully Family Foundation Grantmaking Strategy: https://irenescullyfoundation.org/strategy/ (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Irene S Scully Family Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/200414306 (accessed January 2026)
• Pacific Foundation Services - Irene S. Scully Family Foundation: https://pfs-llc.net/foundations/irene-s-scully-family-foundation/ (accessed January 2026)
• Northern California Grantmakers - Irene S. Scully Family Foundation Profile: https://ncg.org/profile/org/15590 (accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Irene S. Scully Family Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/irene-s-scully-family-foundation (accessed January 2026)
• GO Advocates WCC - Kathleen Maloney profile: https://goadvocateswcc.org/our-team/kathleen-maloney/ (accessed January 2026)